This PL-300 practice question tests your understanding of prepare the data. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which TWO data source types can be used with Power BI dataflows?
Exchange Online mailbox
Why wrong: Exchange Online is not a supported data source for dataflows.
PDF file
Why wrong: PDF is not a supported source; dataflows do not support PDF import.
Power BI dataset
Why wrong: Dataflows cannot use another dataset as a source; they use raw data sources.
SharePoint Online list
SharePoint lists are supported in dataflows.
Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Database is a supported data source for dataflows.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
SharePoint Online list
SharePoint Online list (Option D) is a correct answer because Power BI dataflows can connect to SharePoint Online lists as a data source, allowing users to ingest list data directly into a dataflow for transformation and loading into the Power BI service. Azure SQL Database (Option E) is also correct because dataflows support Azure SQL Database as a data source, enabling direct extraction of relational data from Azure SQL databases into the dataflow engine for ETL processes.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Exchange Online mailbox
Why it's wrong here
Exchange Online is not a supported data source for dataflows.
PDF file
Why it's wrong here
PDF is not a supported source; dataflows do not support PDF import.
Power BI dataset
Why it's wrong here
Dataflows cannot use another dataset as a source; they use raw data sources.
SharePoint Online list
Why this is correct
SharePoint lists are supported in dataflows.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Azure SQL Database
Why this is correct
Azure SQL Database is a supported data source for dataflows.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse the connectors available in Power BI Desktop (which supports PDF and Exchange) with those supported in Power BI dataflows, leading them to select options that are valid in Desktop but not in dataflows.
Detailed technical explanation
Power BI dataflows use the Power Query Online engine, which supports a curated list of connectors optimized for cloud-based ETL, including Azure SQL Database and SharePoint Online lists via the SharePoint REST API. Unlike Power BI Desktop, dataflows do not support all connectors (e.g., PDF, Exchange) due to limitations in the cloud environment and the need for scalable, authenticated data ingestion. This distinction is critical when designing data architectures that rely on dataflows for centralized data preparation.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
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FAQ
Prepare the data — This question tests Prepare the data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: SharePoint Online list — SharePoint Online list (Option D) is a correct answer because Power BI dataflows can connect to SharePoint Online lists as a data source, allowing users to ingest list data directly into a dataflow for transformation and loading into the Power BI service. Azure SQL Database (Option E) is also correct because dataflows support Azure SQL Database as a data source, enabling direct extraction of relational data from Azure SQL databases into the dataflow engine for ETL processes.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This PL-300 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PL-300 exam.
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